Is there a good death in contemporary Western societies? If so, what form might this take?

Essay from the year 2011 in the subject Sociology - Individual, Groups, Society, grade: 1,0, University College Cork, language: English, abstract: In this essay about 'The Good Death' I want to figure out different opinions, definitions and theories towards this topic and how sociological aspects like sex, social status or tradition have an impact on it. Antithetic I want to take a closer look to the personal view of people and their own definition about the 'Good Death' and if it is possible in reality, in the social life that surrounds them, to fulfill their wishes and ideas. So all in all, I do not want to talk about sudden death in this essay. I want to talk about a 'normal' death and what people think about this last step in life and death in case of illnesses and how people get along with the topic of death during this procedure. In the end I'm going to put my own attitude into this discussion.